Fruit-grader.



H. A. BEEKHUIS.

FRUIT GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. zo, Isoa.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

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H. A. BEEKHUIS.

FRUIT GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. zo, 1008.

l 906,605. Patented 1190.154908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITE@ STATES PATNT OFFICE.

HERMANUS ALBERT BEEKHUIS, OF HANFORD, CALIFORNIA, vASSIGNOR TO CALIFORNIA FRUIT-CANNERS ASSOCIATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-GRADER.

Specification of Lettera Patent.

Patented Dec. i5, 1908.

Applicationled February 20, 1908. Serial No.- l116,819.

.To aZZwhom it mag/concern.' l

Be it known that I, HERMANUS ALBERT BEEKHUIS, a citizen of the :United States, residing at Hanford, in the county of Kings and Stateoif California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit Graders, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to the classof fruitgraders, and it consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The objectvof my invention is to separate fruit yaccording to size, and to rapidly, economicallyand effectively handle the different grades, thus adapting the machine for use in canning plants, where these results are important. l

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

1 is a frame in which is supported, upon spring standards 2, the grading table 3, to which a shaking motion is imparted by suitable means, here shown as consisting of the crank-shaft 4 and connecting links 5.

The grading table is provided with holes 6, arranged in groups, the holes in successive groups, being graduated in size, those of the rst group, at the head of the table where the fruit is supplied to it, being the smallest, and those at the foot of the table being the largest.

Under each group of holes is a chute 7, each chute leading and directing its fruit to a traveling carrier 8.. The outer fixed guard 9 of this carrier has gate-ways 10, each of which is controlled by a switch gate 11 which is adapted to be turned inwardly at an angle over` the carrier, in order to divert the fruit thereon to and through the gatewa lreyond each gate-way is a traveling carrier 12 which is supposed to lead to the canning tables or other destination for the graded fruit.

At the foot of the table 3 is a trough 13 which receives the largest size of fruit which is unable to pass through the table holes, and delivers it to the carrier 8.

Now, in case any one grade of fruit is delivered at the canning table or other destination in too great quantity to be properly handled, I provide for diverting said grade,

`the carrier 8, in order to divert both either inwholeor in part,vto supplementary or additional canningtablesor destinations. This is done as 'follows- Between the inner side ofthe carrier 8 and the delivery `ends of the chutes 7 lies a supplementary traveling carrier 14, Fig. .1. Above this carrier are. arranged swinging bridges l5, which when turned down overlie the said carrier and span the space between-the delivery ends of the chutes 7 and the main carrier 8; .and when turned up, bar the passage ,to said main carrier and expose the supplementary carrier,as is shown, in oneinstance, in 'F ig. l. YEach of these brid, ;es.isbestI divided into sections, so that either-the whole, oronly a portionof the particular .grade may bedivertedto the supplementary carrier 14. At the end of the supplementary carrier is a carrier 16 which leads'to additional canning tables or destinations.

The operation of the machine is as 'follows :-The fruit, say, for example, reviously divided, pitted and peeled eac es, is supplied to the head of the ra ing table, and is thereon shaken and a vanced. The smallest fruit drops through the first group of holes, and travels by gravity down the underlying chute 7 and over .the turned down bridge 15, to the carrier 8. Advancing with this carrier, the fruit meets and is deflected by the switch-gate 11, through the gate-way 10, to the carrier 12, by which it 1s taken to the canning table. Each gra-de is similarly and separately treated.

When desired, two or more grades ma be blended; as, for example, if the smallest grade and the one next larger are required to be blended, the rst switch gate can be left in position to keep its gate-way 10 closed, and the next gate may be swung over ades to the same carrier 12. But, if there should bemore of any grade than the operators at the canning table can roperly handle, say, for example, the smallest grade, then the bridge 15 of this grade, or one section of it, as shown, is turned up to obstruct the passage of the Whole or a portion of said grade, to the main carrier 8. By this turned up bridge, or section thereof, said grade, or a portion of it, falls upon the sup lementary carrier 14, by which it is carried a ong under all the other recumbent bridges, (which are high enough above said carrier to permit such passage) and is delivered to the end carrier 16, which takes it to an additional cannin table at which it can be handled.

Havlng thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. In a fruit-grader, the combination of a grading table, underlying chutes to receive each grade, a traveling carrier connnon to all said chutes and to which they separately deliver their fruit, means for separately diverting the grades from said carrier, a supplementary traveling carrier, and vmeans for `diverting any grade from its course tothe main carrier, to said supplementary carrier.

2. In a fruit-grader, the combination of a A grading table, underlying chutes to receive each grade, a traveling carrier common to all said chutes and to which they separately deliver their fruit, means for separately diverting the grades from said carrier, a supplementary traveling carrier interposed between the main carrier and the delivery chutes, and means for diverting any grade, from its chute, to the supplementary carrier.

8. In a fruit-grader, the combination of a grading table, underlying chutes to receive each'grade, a traveling carrier common to all said chutes and to which they separately deliver their fruit, means for separately diverting the grades from said carrier, a supplementary traveling carrier interposed between the main carrier and the delivery chutes, and swinging bridges overlying the supplementary carrier to normally carry the fruit from the chutes to the main carrier, and adapted, when raised, to bar the passage of the fruit to said main carrier and to elect its delivery to the supplementary carrler.

4. In a fruit-grader, the combination of a grading table, underlying chutes to receive each grade, a traveln carrier common to all said chutes and to which they separately deliver their fruit, means for separately diverting the grades from said carrier, a supplementary traveling carrierinterposed between the main carrier and the delivery chutes, swinging bridges overlying the supplementary carrier to normally carry the fruit from the chutes to the main carrier, and adapted, when raised, to bar the passage of the fruitvto said main carrier and to effect its delivery to the supplementary carrier, and a carrier to se arately dispose of the fruit from the supp ementary carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence -of two subscribing witnesses.

' HERMANUS ALBERT BEEKHUIS.

yWitnesses:

D..H. Lamm, J. H. FARLEY. 

